The crackdown on the Nigerian "Eagle Flush" telecom fraud continues to progress. The fifth batch of Chinese suspects pleaded guilty in the Federal High Court of Lagos Ikeja, receiving a sentence of one year in prison and a fine of 1 million Naira (approximately 4500 RMB), with deportation following the completion of their sentence.
The case originated from a raid by the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 10, 2024, resulting in the arrest of 792 suspects, including 148 Chinese nationals, which drew international attention. The court has now initiated an "overtime trial" mode to expedite the clearing of case backlogs.
This round, the five Chinese defendants initially refused to plead guilty but eventually switched to plea bargaining during the trial and received a lighter sentence, with their electronic devices confiscated by the government. Despite the conclusion of the sentencing, the EFCC's announcement was riddled with errors, highlighting the extensive and chaotic nature of the judicial process.
Meanwhile, the main case involving amounts up to 3.4 billion Naira and 2.56 million USD is also progressing, with the main suspect Huang Haoyu charged with 11 serious offenses, and the testimony of the second witness has been completed. The EFCC aims to accelerate the trial process and apply plea bargaining for minor offenses.
However, the general public remains skeptical about judicial efficiency, with the prevalent "African pace" leading to "justice delayed" becoming the norm, reflecting systemic challenges and public dissatisfaction.
